Intel unveils next-generation processors

Intel Corporation today unveiled ten ‘Core 2 Duo’ and ‘Core 2 Extreme’ dual-core processors for consumer and business desktop and laptop PCs and workstations. Built around a completely new core architecture, these CPUs are, the firm claims, the “world’s best” and offer a real performance boost over its last-generation chips.

Intel Corporation today unveiled ten Intel ‘Core 2 Duo’ and ‘Core 2 Extreme’ dual-core processors for consumer and business desktop and laptop PCs and workstations. Built around a completely new core architecture, these CPUs are, the firm claims, the “world’s best” and offer a real performance boost over its last-generation chips. “The Core 2 Duo processors are simply the best processors in the world,” said Paul Otellini, president and CEO of Intel. “Not since Intel introduced the Pentium processor has the industry seen the heart of the computer reinvented like this. The Core 2 Duo desktop processor is an energy-efficient marvel, packing 291 million transistors yet consuming 40% lower power, while delivering the performance needed for the applications of today and tomorrow.” Intel claims to have more than 550 partners currently building computers based on these new CPUs, with the processors themselves due to hit the Middle East market from the end of next month onwards. “This is an exciting time for Intel and for the connected world,” said Samir Al-Schamma, general manager of Intel in the GCC. “With this record breaking performance, these processors will transform what PCs can do for us in the next few years”. Unlike the firm’s previous-generation Pentium-branded CPUs, Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors are built using 65-nanometer silicon process technology. In terms of how they compare, Intel claims its current focus on ‘performance per watt of power used’ rather than purely increased clock speeds has led to its Core 2 Duo desktop chips consuming 40% less power then its previous Pentium D dual-core offering. Meanwhile, Intel claims that its new mobile dual-core platform, Centrino Duo, offers 2.5 times more performance per watt than its last-generation Centrino suite of technologies. At the business server end, Intel touts an 80% performance gain on its new ‘core’ architecture Xeon platforms. The Core 2 Duo processors released today include the Core 2 Extreme, which Al-Schamma today said was simply “the best gaming processor”. Referring to how Intel’s new dual-core CPU offerings compare to its competitor AMD’s offerings, Al-Schamma added: “90% of the performance benchmarks used show Core 2 Duo performing best. Hands down, performance-wise, this time Intel wins.” To check out one of Intel's new Core 2 Duo desktop CPUs going head-to-head with its AMD equivalent, don't miss the next issue of Windows Middle East, on sale throughout August.